Corona infected: Lauterbach towards the end of the isolation obligation

As of: 07/23/2022 4:02 p.m

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“Infected people must stay at home” – Minister of Health Lauterbach clearly opposed the demand from the head of the panel doctor, Gassen. He had advocated lifting all corona isolation requirements.

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach has rejected calls for an end to the obligation to isolate people infected with the corona virus. “Infected people have to stay at home,” wrote the SPD politician on Twitter. “Otherwise, not only will the number of cases increase even more, but the workplace itself will become a safety risk.”

The head of the panel doctor, Andreas Gassen, had previously called for all corona isolation and quarantine requirements to be lifted. “This would alleviate the shortage of staff in many places,” said the chairman of the board of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ). “We have to get back to normal. Those who are sick stay at home. Those who feel healthy go to work.” “We do the same with other infectious diseases such as the flu,” emphasized Gassen.

Gassen: alleviate staff shortages

The number of infections has been very high for months. And since fewer tests are carried out at the same time, “we can also assume hundreds of thousands of undetected infections per day,” said the KBV boss. “But: The gradients are almost always mild.” The problem is “not the many infections, but that those who test positive stay at home for several days even without symptoms and are sent into isolation,” said Gassen. This would result in “staff shortages in the clinics and elsewhere”.

Gassen pleaded in the “NOZ” to see the omicron mutant “almost as a ‘peace offer of the virus'”. Anyone who gets infected after triple vaccination “even benefits from an infection by acquiring mucosal immunity”. Those who have been vaccinated are well protected against severe courses. However, nobody should actively become infected, said the KBV boss. “But we cannot hide from the virus permanently. And we are the last country in Europe that is still discussing a corona emergency with such excitement.”

Brysch: “Gassen plays with people’s health”

The head of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, Eugen Brysch, accused Gassen of “opportunism”. “The isolation protects. Because it prevents others from getting infected. Long and post-Covid are the consequences. Over five million people who have recovered are already suffering from it.” Gassen plays with people’s health, says Brysch.

Gassen also accused Lauterbach of a “wrong” vaccination strategy in the NOZ that would waste up to a hundred million euros. According to Gassen, Lauterbach is planning up to 60 million vaccinations in autumn and winter.

Only 30 million vaccinations – instead of 60

According to a calculation by his association, however, only a maximum of 30 million vaccinations can be expected. A second booster for everyone over 60, a first booster for all younger people and a generous contingent for those who have not been vaccinated are generously included.

The federal government’s goal of 50 to 60 million vaccinations “is unrealistic in our opinion,” said Gassen. If Lauterbach has ordered more than 200 million doses, as reported by the media, “it is to be expected that vaccines worth possibly a hundred million euros or more will have to be thrown away”.

Lanes against blanket fourth vaccination

The chief physician also criticized the health minister’s advice to under-60s to quickly get a second booster vaccination. “We know from Israeli studies, among other things, that a second booster does not make sense in younger, healthy people,” emphasized Gassen.

He also sees no need for this in the coming autumn as long as there are no new and significantly more dangerous variants, Gassen added.

STIKO boss also contradicts Lauterbach

A week ago, the head of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) spoke out against broad four vaccinations for younger people – and thus opposed the latest recommendation from the Minister of Health. He does not know any data that would justify such advice, Thomas Mertens told the “Welt am Sonntag” and added: “I think it’s bad to make medical recommendations under the motto ‘A lot helps a lot’.”

There was also criticism of the recommendation from the co-governing FDP. Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai told the “t-online” portal: “In my opinion, Mr. Lauterbach is well advised not to anticipate the STIKO when it comes to vaccination recommendations.”